In the summer of 2014 Liverpool looked down on Manchester United from a position of strength.

Brendan Rodgers’ men had finished the previous campaign a massive 20 points better off than their arch rivals having done the double over a United side in decline.

There was talk of a shift in the balance of power between English football’s two heavyweights with Liverpool having spent most of the previous two decades in United’s shadow. The Reds were returning to the Champions League after a five-year absence, while Louis van Gaal took over from David Moyes a club consigned to life outside Europe’s elite for the first time since 1995.

However, Liverpool’s laugh at United’s expense didn’t last. Come May, normal service had been resumed with United having taken the Reds’ place in the top four. Rodgers’ first experience of the Champions League had proved painfully shortlived.

Juan Mata of Manchester United celebrates his second goal

Liverpool carelessly squandered the chance to leave United behind. Much of that was down to the mistakes they made in the transfer market last summer as so much of the £116million spent in the wake of Luis Suarez’s departure to Barcelona was frittered away.

Of the eight players who arrived at Anfield, just four remain with Lazar Markovic, Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert and Javier Manquillo having already been off-loaded. Of those still there, only Emre Can can be deemed a success. Alberto Moreno can’t get in the side, while neither Dejan Lovren nor Adam Lallana have come close to justifying their hefty price tags.

United frittered away plenty of cash themselves with Van Gaal’s £150million spending spree a year ago including big money flops Angel di Maria and Radamel Falcao. But in the dogfight to be the best of the also-rans, United cruised home. They won just one of their last six but such was Liverpool’s demise that it didn’t matter. Fourth place was gift-wrapped for them.

Manchester United's Radamel Falcao during the Barclays Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool.

It’s still early days but once again this season Liverpool and United look set to be in direct competition. Not for the big prize fans crave but for the top-four spot Rodgers knows he must secure to satisfy the club’s owners and a restless fanbase.

Manchester City have looked a class apart during the opening exchanges, while it’s hard to envisage either Arsenal or Chelsea, despite their early troubles, missing out. The smart money suggests it will be Liverpool or United.

What’s clear is that once again United have flaws that can be exposed. Van Gaal has spent another £100million without truly easing the goal burden on Wayne Rooney. They are predictable going forward and vulnerable defensively but Liverpool have been equally as unconvincing.

Nothing will be decided at Old Trafford on Saturday evening but the outcome will certainly have repercussions for the weeks and months ahead. For the losers, the fallout will be deeply uncomfortable.

Having made such a hash of showing United a clean pair of heels last season, Liverpool simply can’t afford to get it wrong again.

Steven Gerrard of Liverpool receives an award from Gerard Houllier and Ian Ayre Chief Executive of Liverpool FC during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield on May 16, 2015 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Gerrard's comments uneasy reading for Anfield hierarchy

The debate has been re-ignited over whether Liverpool did enough to hold on to Steven Gerrard.

When the Reds captain waved goodbye back in May, publicly he insisted there were no hard feelings.

“I don’t think it’s the case that Liverpool should have done anything different to try and keep me,” he said. “I think it’s the right time.”

However, Gerrard’s admission ahead of the release of his new autobiography that the offer of a player-coach role would have convinced him to stay at Anfield has put the club’s handling of his departure back under scrutiny.

What’s undeniable is that Liverpool were far too slow to open talks over a new contract, leaving it until November to sit down with his agent was disrespectful.

At the time Liverpool believed Gerrard wouldn’t have taken a coaching role because he wanted to focus solely on playing but the midfielder says talk of shadowing Rodgers was only discussed once he had announced he was heading for LA Galaxy.

Considering that Rodgers subsequently replaced his backroom staff this summer, it certainly appears that a golden opportunity to keep hold of Gerrard’s wealth of knowledge and experience was missed.

Regardless of what went on, the greatest player in the club’s history clearly feels that Liverpool could have done more to keep him and that makes for uneasy reading.

Jimmy Tarbuck

Sign up for Legends Golf Day

Places are still available at the 5Times Liverpool Legends Annual Golf Day to be held at Carden Park in Cheshire on Thursday, September 24.

Packages for three players to take part in a fourball with a former Kop star start from £695. That includes breakfast and a gala dinner in the evening. The day will help to raise money for a number of charities. For further details contact Sue Griffiths on 07975 597219 or email: Sue@5times.com

Among those taking part in the golf day will be comedian Jimmy Tarbuck and the following night (Friday, September 25) there is a Variety Club black tie dinner in his honour at Liverpool’s Hilton Hotel. Tickets cost £75 and all proceeds go to the Variety Sunshine Coach Appeal. Contact Jim Donaldson on 07855 968861 or email merseyside@variety.org.uk